Tongue positioning and exercising device

Abstract

A device having an outer marginal area for clenched retention between the upper and lower teeth. Tongue supporting members extend inwardly and upwardly from the marginal area to properly position the tongue with the tongue tip in contact with the upper alveolar ridge of the gum. Openings permit passage of saliva through the device. Projections, on a modified form of the device, cause tongue discomfort if the tongue is improperly located below the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured in a Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A tongue positioning and muscle training device for periodic positioning in clenched engagement with upper and lower teeth of the wearer, said device comprising, a curved frontal marginal area for retentive disposition intermediate the clenched teeth of the upper and lower dental arches, and   a pair of inclined tongue supporting portions extending laterally inwardly from said marginal area and each portion having an upper convex surface forming upper rounded tongue supporting surfaces and inwardly disposed surfaces for centering the tongue, said portions with their upper convex surfaces in place in the mouth being dimensioned to be subjacently spaced from the alveolar gum ridge of the wearer's mouth for receiving and elevating the tongue and confining the latter substantially centrally in the mouth for touching the alveolar ridge of the mouth and guiding the tongue above and out of contact with the wearer's teeth.   
     
     
       2. The tongue positioning and muscle training device claimed in claim 1 wherein said tongue supporting portions have a central open rear area arranged to receive the tongue frenulum. 
     
     
       3. The tongue positioning and muscle training device claimed in claim 1 additionally including a central portion of lesser transverse section than said tongue supporting portions. 
     
     
       4. The tongue positioning and muscle training device claimed in claim 1 wherein said tongue supporting portions are inclined so as to lie in a sector defined by about 15 and 35 degree angles to the horizontal. 
     
     
       5. The tongue positioning and muscle training device claimed in claim 1 wherein said frontal marginal area includes an upstanding rim. 
     
     
       6. The tongue positioning and muscle training device claimed in claim 1 additionally including downwardly directed projections on said tongue supporting portions which function as negative stimuli to cause discomfort to the tongue when located below the tongue supporting portions. 
     
     
       7. The tongue positioning and muscle training device claimed in claim 1 wherein said tongue supporting portions define openings for the upward passage of saliva.